Groups of the Orient

Follow the ancient Silk Road -- actually a series of West to East trails -- into
the rich and heady cultures of central, eastern, and southern Asia. Venture off these paths
into the islands of Indonesia, the Phillippines, and even down to the Pacific Islands. There
is even a thread for Australia and another for New Zealand.

While
steeped in centuries of history and traditions, venture to the Imperial Courts of
China; or out into the countryside, as you allow accretions of centuries of dynasties, and
their rich and varied learning, to wash over you.

Visit the islands of Japan, far to the East, and study the ancient cultures therein.
Travel south, to the countries comprising Indochina, and back westwards again -- to
mystical India.

Inhale the aromas of spices and seasonings from a thousand glorious cuisines, feast your
eyes on stunningly-executed artwork and statuary.

The Orient gave us paper and gunpowder; the Orient is the seat of the major Eastern
spiritual paths: Buddhism, Hindoism, Taoism, Shinto.